Commutator brush release



1935. H. B. ABERNATHY 1,986,093

COMMUTATOR BRU SH RELEASE Filed May 24, 1932 w 6 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Jan. l, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMMUTATOR BRUSH-.RELEASE Herless B. Abernathy, McCook, Nebr.

Application May 24, 1932, Serial No. 613,194

2 Claims. (01. 81-3) My invention relates to repair devices for generators, starters, and the like. The principal object of the invention is to provide a simple, effective and easily applied device for holding spring-urged brushes away from the armature of such electrical apparatus, in order that the armature maybe removed for repair and then replaced, or another one substituted in its stead.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a device that will automatically compensate for different sizes of brushes and different distances of same from the housing of the electrical apparatus.

Still other objects reside in details of construction, which will appear in the course of the following description. In the drawing, like reference characters designate similar parts in the several views.

Figure 1 is an elevation of a starter, to which has been applied an embodiment of my invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a still further enlargementof the present device.

Figure 4 is a broken section on the line 44 of Figure 3.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, the reference character 5 designates generally the body of a starter housing, or a housing of other electrical apparatus. A head 6 for the housing is joined to the body 5 by connecting members '7 separated by gaps 8 in the housing. These gaps afford access to brushes 9.

The brushes are carried by frames 10 which are urged by springs 11 into contact with armature 12 of the starter. The springs are generally coil springs wound around pivots 13 for the frames. Conductive wires 14 lead to the brushes. The structure thus far described is conventional construction and per se forms no part of the present invention. Therefore, further explanation appears unnecessary.

The embodiment of the present invention shown in the drawing comprises a rod 15 having a hook 16 at one end thereof. The other end has a loop 1'7 forming a convenient handle. The rod is crimped at 18 and 19 to form stops or abutments. Between these stops are mounted on the rod a washer 20, a spring 21 coiled around the rod and a channeled bridging or cross member 22. The

' channel shape of the member 22, perhaps best shown in Figure 4, is for the purpose of strengthening same. The washer, spring and bridging member are movable longitudinally of the rod 15 of one of the brushes.

but are limited in such movement by the stops.

In the use of the invention, when it is desired to remove the armature of a generator, starter, or the like, for repair or replacement, the brushes are held away from same by inserting the hooked 5 end 16 of the present device under the frame 10 To do this, it is necessary to compress the spring, as best shown in the lower right hand portion of Figure 2, in order to get under the frame. To accomplish this, it is 10 usually necessary to turn the bridging member 22 longitudinal of one of the gaps 8, to get the hooked end 16 farther into the housing 5. Then after the hook 16 is placed under the brush-holding frame, the member 22 is turned to a position 15 in which the gap is bridged, as shown in Figure 1. In this position the ends of the bridging member rest onthe head and body of the housing.

The tension of the coil' spring 21 lifts the brush from the'armature and holds it away from the armature, since it is stronger than the spring 11 that urges the brush against the armature.

After repair or replacement, the armature is installed in the housing. The brushes may then be released by turning the hooks 16 through the 25 intermediary of the handles 17, whereupon the brushes again move into contact with the armature.

It will be seen that I have provided brush releasing means that can be quickly and easily'put on and taken off. The spring 21 makes the device automatically adjustable, since a long or a short reach may be effected by reason of same. The spring-urged brushes would normally bemoved toward the center of the housing when the armature is removed, and hence be in the way when the electrical apparatus is re-assembled. In'contradistinction, the present invention holds the brushes out of contact with 40 the armature, thereby permitting facile removal and installation of the armature.

It is to be understood that changes may be made in my invention in order to perform the present function, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters- Patent is:

1. 'A release for a spring-urged, movable, electric contact, comprising a rod engaging the contact to pull it against the pressure of its spring,

a cross member on the rod having its ends supported againstmovement in the direction of the contact, and spring means stronger than the contact spring moving the rod and thereby the contact away 1mm a normal position or rest oi. the latter.

2. A release for a spring-urged, movable, electric contact, comprising alengthwise slidable rod 5 having eans for holding the contact away from its normal position or rest. a support for the rod supported against movement in the direction of the contact, and a spring on the rod support, acting upon the rod for its lengthwise movement against the resistance of the contact spring, when in an operative position.

HERLESS B. ABERNATHY. 

